Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 2).djvu/96

This page needs to be proofread.

were hurried, and by means of rackings and suspensions were forced to surrender whatever they possessed unless actually killed by the severity of the torture.^[1] Such was John's method of procedure at his own headquarters, but for the provinces he picked out emissaries of approved brutality, and despatched them into all districts with injunctions to follow his example.^[2] Under this régime the Court of Appeal of the Praetorian Prefect was, of course, as venal as that of the Emperor and Tribonian; and the formalities of a trial were almost dispensed with, so that a hasty dispatch of the cases might facilitate the gathering in of the bribes.^[3]

↑ Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 57. Lydus says that he himself saw an old man of his acquaintance, who was suspected of having a private hoard, hung up by the hands with stiff ropes until he expired.
↑ Ibid., 58. As an instance Lydus describes the conduct of another Cappadocian, nicknamed Maxilloplumacius ("Puffy-Cheeks"), from his peculiar aspect, who raided Asia for the fisc. He began at Philadelphia, the native town of Lydus, where he established himself in great state, and indulged himself in unbounded luxury, licentiousness, and cruelty. One Petronius, a man of rank and culture in the town, being possessed of some handsome jewels as heirlooms, was ordered to deliver them up. On his refusal he was loaded with chains, beaten with rods, and shut up in a stable. The Philadelphians were deeply grieved and the Bishop was moved to intercede on his behalf. Bible in hand, at the head of several of his inferior clergy, he appeared before the tyrant, but was at once assailed with foul and abusive language. He retired in dismay, but Petronius, at last reduced to despair, promised everything, and, on being let out, took his jewels and other valuables to the Praetorium, where he threw them in a heap in the vestibule. In another case an old soldier was racked for twenty solidi which he could not pay, but, anxious to be released at any cost, finally asserted that he had them in concealment. Being accompanied to his dwelling, and allowed to search apart, after some delay he was found to have hanged himself. The body was then kicked into the street, and the wretched premises gutted by the apparitors.
↑ Ibid., 66, 67.

[1] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 57. Lydus says that he himself saw an old man of his acquaintance, who was suspected of having a private hoard, hung up by the hands with stiff ropes until he expired.

[2] Ibid., 58. As an instance Lydus describes the conduct of another Cappadocian, nicknamed Maxilloplumacius ("Puffy-Cheeks"), from his peculiar aspect, who raided Asia for the fisc. He began at Philadelphia, the native town of Lydus, where he established himself in great state, and indulged himself in unbounded luxury, licentiousness, and cruelty. One Petronius, a man of rank and culture in the town, being possessed of some handsome jewels as heirlooms, was ordered to deliver them up. On his refusal he was loaded with chains, beaten with rods, and shut up in a stable. The Philadelphians were deeply grieved and the Bishop was moved to intercede on his behalf. Bible in hand, at the head of several of his inferior clergy, he appeared before the tyrant, but was at once assailed with foul and abusive language. He retired in dismay, but Petronius, at last reduced to despair, promised everything, and, on being let out, took his jewels and other valuables to the Praetorium, where he threw them in a heap in the vestibule. In another case an old soldier was racked for twenty solidi which he could not pay, but, anxious to be released at any cost, finally asserted that he had them in concealment. Being accompanied to his dwelling, and allowed to search apart, after some delay he was found to have hanged himself. The body was then kicked into the street, and the wretched premises gutted by the apparitors.

[3] Ibid., 66, 67.

[1]

[2]

[3]